Last original Jacket traded to Phoenix

By RUSTY MILLER -
Associated Press -
Monday, February 28, 2011

COLUMBUS, OHIO (AP) - The Phoenix Coyotes needed a big, stay-at-home defenseman to fill in while Ed Jovanovski is out with an injury. The Columbus Blue Jackets wanted more speed and financial flexibility.

Both sides got what they wanted a couple of hours before the NHL trade deadline ended on Monday.

“When Ed Jovanovski got injured, we felt very vulnerable on our blue line, especially in the defensive-matchup, penalty-killing role,” Coyotes GM Don Maloney said. “We searched for what we hoped was a top-four defenseman who could match up against good players. This deal really came up today and it was a case where we had to give to get.”

“They were looking for a left-handed, bigger, stronger shutdown-type of guy. That sort of fit their need,” Blue Jackets general manager Scott Howson said. “And we wanted to improve our mobility and maybe give us some offense.”

Klesla, hampered by injuries the past two seasons, was the expansion club’s first-round pick (fourth overall) in the 2000 player draft. The 28-year-old had three goals and seven assists in 45 games this year with a plus-10 rating.

Klesla has size (6-foot-3, 221 pounds) to help the Coyotes‘ blue line. Jovanovski is recovering from an orbital-bone fracture.

“It’s been a long time. I’ve really enjoyed my time in Columbus,” Klesla said on TSN. “I met a lot of great people. The only thing that wasn’t great was that we weren’t able to bring a winning team. I wish them the best.”

“It’s a fresh start for him,” said Maloney, who has Klesla’s first coach with the Blue Jackets, Dave King, on his coaching staff. “We felt we had a good insight into the player and the personality and the fit with our group because so much of what we do is chemistry and mix. We look at him as a tandem with Mike Rozsival that can match up with anyone in the West and straighten up our penalty killing a little.”

Klesla has three years remaining on a contract that pays him almost $3 million a year, through the 2013-14 season.

“Well, it was hard to move Rusty,” Howson said. “(He is) a good person, really good in the community, been a really good player for us. That wasn’t an easy deal. It was just a case where the needs fit each team.”

Just before the deadline, the Blue Jackets also dealt left wing Tom Sestito to the Philadelphia Flyers for former Columbus center Greg Moore and center prospect Michael Chaput.

The Blue Jackets need quicker players to plug into coach Scott Arniel’s attack. In addition, Howson was looking to add to the club’s depth while stocking up on younger players.